AUTOSPORT AWARDS 2019
The Autosport Awards has an outstanding pedigree when it comes to attracting the biggest names in motorsport to Grosvenor House on Park Lane each year. But having three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart present an award to Albert II, Prince of Monaco, in recognition of the principality’s famous grand prix might just be the most glamorous combination to take to the stage in the history of the ceremony.
Across the four decades since the Awards began, WSR team principal Dick Bennetts has established himself as one of the pre-eminent engineers, scoring success in British Formula 3, A1GP and the British Touring Car Championship. His lifetime’s achievement was celebrated on a night hosted by Natalie Pinkham and Tom Clarkson.
Lewis Hamilton was voted International Racing Driver of the Year by Autosport readers for the third time in succession and Marc Marquez maintained his clean sweep of Rider of the Year wins. But 2019 has also been a year of significant loss in the racing world, with F1 race director Michael Masi collecting the John Bolster Award that this year recognised the outstanding contribution to motorsport by made by the late Charlie Whiting.
Champions Jean-Eric Vergne, Ott Tanak and Colin Turkington also added to their silverware collections, while W Series was recognised for its pioneering inaugural season on the same day that it signed a title sponsor for next year.
“It’s a great privilege to be here at this event and I want to congratulate all the winners”
PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO
It was British F3 runner-up Johnathan Hoggard, however, who scooped the biggest prize of the night. He can look ahead to 2020 with a cheque for £200,000 and a test drive in a Red Bull grand prix car after winning the prestigious Aston
